This article about the Albany Bulb/ Race Track sailing site in the east bay mentions windsurfing as a detriment to eel grass and challenges the EIR in a Law suit.

Who Launches there? no one I know.
this is a non issue: they can close it to windsurfing, no one should have a problem with it. we have many other launches! (dog shit park anyone?)_________________https://www.surferslist.com/
Sell your used gear!

Itís not an issue how many people do or donít sail there, it is all about precedence in a court of law. If they win this battle then the precedence has been set for future battles in the courts at more popular sites.

thank you both for your corrections.
So kiters=bad.
we just need, once again, to make sure we're not lump-sumed into the "crazy cooks with their shiny machines" category._________________https://www.surferslist.com/
Sell your used gear!

>Who Launches there? no one I know.
>this is a non issue: they can close it to windsurfing, no one should have a >problem with it. we have many other launches! (dog shit park anyone?)

even though the racetrack may not be a windsurf launch, pt. isabel , aka dog shit park, and marina bay are right around the corner. if damage to eel grass is an issue at the racetrack it could also be a reason for those other two sites to be declared off limits.

actually there's quite a bit of eel grass at berkeley, too.

boardsports have seemed to have had little effect on the eel grass in bodega and tomales bay. it is my understanding that bodega bay is the result of a successful human reintroduction program. they planted an experimental patch at larkspur and the poor water quality did that in.

Let me see if I can clear up a few things. First, eel grass is not as common in San Francisco Bay as most biologists expect. There is a large bed in San Pablo Bay and smaller beds near the base of the Bay Bridge, near the Emeryville Shoal, near the Treasure Island ramp, and in the lee of the breakwater at the entrance channel to the Richmond Harbor. Windsurfers have sailed out of Berkeley and Emeryville, and run into the fronds near the Emeryville shoal for decades, and there is no no evidence that it has had any adverse impact on the bed. Eel grass is a valuable habitat, and depends on water clarity and soil that is not too muddy.

Second, some members of the Sierra Club are extremely hostile to public access, and are willing to develop arguments that seriously stretch the science to support their hostility. The same guy who is behind this lawsuit also opposed the Bay Trail extension near Buchanan Street, when it was proposed about a decade ago. That area continues to be heavily used by waterbirds, with different species present at different tidal stages, despite heavy use of the Bay Trail. The Bay Trail project was approved over his objections. Many members of the Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP) support improved access to the water, although they oppose dog use. The Sierra Club representative was unable to secure CESP support in opposing increased public access, either before the East Bay Regional Park District Board, or in the lawsuit. The State park plan designates this area for access to the water, and it has been used for kite access for a number of years--while eel grass beds have been increasing. So the East Bay Regional Park District said in the final EIR that there is already substantial use of the area, and their project, which would increase the size of the beach and the area where eel grass is expected to grow, would have net environmental benefits. That is, there will be more eel grass and more access.

SFBA and our allies among the kayakers, particularly at Bay Access, continue to support real biological science. In cases like this, the bias against public access is seen by many in the public arena as bias and advocacy, not as well reasoned objections.

I do think that the update on the SFBA site is accurate. The launch here is east of the stronger wind, and is used far more by kites than windsurfers. Of course, as such, with the shorter fins on kiteboards and the fact that eel grass fronds are under water except at extreme low tides, it is nearly impossible to imagine kite fins doing any appreciable damage to the submerged beds.

Mac, Thanks for the update and info. I saw the original article and thought somebody was confused with the mention of"windsurfers and eel grass damage" or else had an ulterior motive, which seems to be the case.

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